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Emergency worker attacks law to be voted on by AMs Emergency worker attacks law to be voted on by AMs
(35 minutes later)
People who attack 999 workers could face harsher penalties if AMs vote for a new law to apply in Wales. A police officer who was surrounded by a gang and beaten unconscious has said he would welcome changes to the law to give emergency workers more protection.
James Dowler was a uniform officer for South Wales Police when he tried to stop a suspicious driver.
He had his eyes gouged by a female passenger, before being punched in the face. Three of the car occupants were later jailed for the attack.
AMs will vote later on whether a new law for 999 staff will apply in Wales.
Labour MP Chris Bryant wants to double the maximum sentence for common assault of an emergency worker to a year.Labour MP Chris Bryant wants to double the maximum sentence for common assault of an emergency worker to a year.
The Rhondda MP said there are 20 such assaults in Wales a day. The Rhondda MP said there were 20 such assaults in Wales a day.
AMs will vote later on whether the proposed new law aimed at cracking down on attacks on emergency workers should apply in Wales. The Welsh Government has backed the legislation.AMs will vote later on whether the proposed new law aimed at cracking down on attacks on emergency workers should apply in Wales. The Welsh Government has backed the legislation.
Health secretary Vaughan Gething said Wales would not tolerate assaults on emergency workers who should have the same protection as those in England. Det Sgt Dowler said any additional protection for 999 staff had to be welcomed, as he described the attack on him.
He had stopped late at night after spotting a parked car with smoke coming from the wheels.
But as he approached the vehicle, the driver ran off, and the officer gave chase - ending up on the floor with the man.
"Whilst I was holding onto the driver on the floor one of the female occupants of the car jumped on my back and started gouging my eye," he told BBC Radio Wales.
"I realised at that point I was in serious trouble with a large number of people around me and I was by myself."
He managed to activate his emergency radio alarm but then the assailants threw his radio away.
"I felt completely vulnerable, and completely alone at that point."
A further scuffle developed with another passenger, before he was hit.
"We were sort of grappling for a short amount of time and at that point he punched me to the face and I fell to the floor in some sort of state of unconsciousness."
He said a judge described his facial injuries as some of the worst he had seen, when the three attackers were caught and went to court.
The driver was given a six month sentence, while the other two attackers received two year jail terms.
Ahead of the assembly vote on Tuesday, the Health Secretary Vaughan Gething said Wales would not tolerate assaults on emergency workers who should have the same protection as those in England.
He said: "An attack on an emergency worker is, in a sense, an attack on all of us because they're simply trying to save other people's lives.He said: "An attack on an emergency worker is, in a sense, an attack on all of us because they're simply trying to save other people's lives.
"I just think that we need to say loud and clear that if you attack an emergency worker, we will not put up with it.""I just think that we need to say loud and clear that if you attack an emergency worker, we will not put up with it."
The principles behind Mr Bryant's bill have been backed by UK government ministers, and their Welsh Conservative colleagues in the assembly are expected to support the consent motion for the bill on Tuesday.The principles behind Mr Bryant's bill have been backed by UK government ministers, and their Welsh Conservative colleagues in the assembly are expected to support the consent motion for the bill on Tuesday.
CASE STUDY: STEVE JONES
Former South Wales Police custody sergeant Steve Jones has been on the receiving end of violence on more than one occasion. But it was an attack in his own police station that has stuck with him after retiring, having served 17 years in the force.
He was helping move a drink-driver into a cell when the prisoner turned on him.
"It was probably one of the worst assaults I've received while working in custody," said Mr Jones.
"He just lunged forward - he was a lot bigger then me - and head butted me on the left side of my face. This caused me to fly backwards and I whacked my head on the cell door."
He later lost a tooth as a result of his injury.
But it was how the assailant was dealt with by the courts that angered the ex-officer.
"At court, for the assault on me, he received a two-week suspended sentence, and I was given £100 compensation.
"I thought it was very lenient.
"Why was he not put in jail for that?
"It's almost a matter of course that police officers are expected to take some sort of blow - or verbal abuse at the very least - as part of their daily job.
"At the end of the day, police officers - like all other emergency services people - are there to help people.
"And when they are assaulted, I think it needs to be treated as a more serous offence."
Mr Gething said: "It is shocking to hear continued reports of emergency workers being attacked both physically and verbally while simply doing their jobs, trying to keep us all safe and well. This bill is part of dealing with this.Mr Gething said: "It is shocking to hear continued reports of emergency workers being attacked both physically and verbally while simply doing their jobs, trying to keep us all safe and well. This bill is part of dealing with this.
"We want emergency service workers in Wales to have the same protection as those in England and on the same timescales.""We want emergency service workers in Wales to have the same protection as those in England and on the same timescales."
Under existing rules, AMs have to give consent to legislation from Parliament that applies to powers which are devolved to the Welsh assembly and the Welsh Government.Under existing rules, AMs have to give consent to legislation from Parliament that applies to powers which are devolved to the Welsh assembly and the Welsh Government.
In this case, the Welsh Government has tabled the motion because the law affects the NHS and fire and rescue services, which are all devolved.In this case, the Welsh Government has tabled the motion because the law affects the NHS and fire and rescue services, which are all devolved.
The legislation, which would still need to be passed by MPs even if the consent motion is carried, creates a new aggravated version of the existing offence of common assault or battery when committed against an emergency worker.The legislation, which would still need to be passed by MPs even if the consent motion is carried, creates a new aggravated version of the existing offence of common assault or battery when committed against an emergency worker.
It also makes assaults on emergency workers an aggravating factor for other assault offences.It also makes assaults on emergency workers an aggravating factor for other assault offences.